Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the most common forms of execution? ~ Schumer
- Execution by shooting is a form of capital punishment whereby an executed person is shot by one or more firearms. It is the most common method of execution worldwide, used in about 70 countries,[1] with execution by firing squad being one particular form.
- Lethal injection is the top form of execution in the U.S.
- Hanging is the second most common method practiced in 58 countries
- China performs the most executions than any other country and execute by firing squad.
- Statistics about the death penalty? ~ Schumer
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| Death penalty executions in 2007 |
- How many victims of capital punishment have there been in the United States within the past year? ~ Schumer
- There were 52 victims of capital punishment in 2009.
- There have been 45 so far this year.
- What are the alternatives to capital punishment? ~ Schumer
- Life imprisonment without parole, rehabilitation, reformatories
- Are there any cases where the Church allows capital punishment? ~ Schumer
- The Catholic Church allows capital punishment as long as it is an action of the state based on judgment, not hatred. The Church allows it if it is the only way to defend the society.
- The Catholic Church allows capital punishment as long as it is an action of the state based on judgment, not hatred. The Church allows it if it is the only way to defend the society.
- What costs more the death penalty or life in jail? ~ Horejsi
- The death penalty costs much more annually than life in prison. The state of California, in one year, uses over $250 million on death penalty, and just $11.5 million on life in prison.
- How much does the death penalty cost? ~ Horejsi
- Average cost in both Texas and Florida is 2.3 million. This, however includes the multiple appeals, the average 6 year incarceration of the prisoner before appeals are exhausted and then the actual execution.
- When did capital punishment become legal in the U.S.? ~ Horejsi
- 1976
- In what countries is the death penalty still practiced? ~Horejsi
- Afghanistan, Antigua/Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Chan, China, Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic), Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Korea (North), Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Qatar Saint Christopher & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe
- What forms of execution are used in the U.S. for capital punishment? ~ Horejsi
- Electrocution, lethal injection, hanging, gas, and shooting.
- During an execution is the criminals family allowed to watch?
- Yes in most states with executions.
- What five states have the highest rate of capital punishment? ~ D'Agostini
- The five states are Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Florida, and Missouri.
- What is the purpose of the death penalty? ~ D'Agostini
- The death penalty is among the oldest criminal punishments. It served three purposes : to punish a crime, to prevent its repetition, and to discourage crimes.
- Why does it take so long for a person who is actually sentenced to death to be put to death? ~ D'Agostini
- Most states have extensive appeals processes that can take years to negotiate.
- For what crimes can be given the death penalty? ~ D'Agostini
- You can be given the death penalty for murder, espionage, treason, rape, adultery, sodomy, apostasy, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
- What was the first recorded use of the death penalty? ~ D'Agostini
- Death penalties have been applied in societies as long as human beings have walked the earth.The first known use of the death penalty occurred in Egypt in the 16th century BC, when someone was accused of doing magic and was forced to take his own life. - D'Agostini
- What is the Church’s view on capital punishment? ~ D'Agostini
- The Church believes capital punishment is sinful in every respect. There are no exceptions because no sin is worth death. God decides when people are taken from this world.
- Are there any Bible passages supporting the Church’s view? ~ D'Agostini
- Yes:
- "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you... whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." Mat. 5:38-39
- "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." John 8:7
- "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" Mat. 6:12
- What alternatives does the Church suggest besides capital punishment? ~ D'Agostini
- The Church suggests life in prison and therapy to take care of criminals without being inhumane to prisoners.
- What has the US Supreme Court ruled is the youngest age at which a person can be executed? ~ Horejsi
- In Roper v. Simmons, 543 US 551 (2005), the US Supreme Court held that it is unconstitutional to execute juvenile offenders, effectively raising the minimum age for capital punishment to 18. Roper overruled an earlier Court decision, Stanford v. Kentucky, 492 US 361 (1989), that determined execution was permissible for juveniles 16 years and older. The Stanford decision overturned 25 State laws that allowed execution of individuals younger than age 16.
- What states don't have the death penalty? ~ Horejsi
- As of October 2009, fourteen states and the District of Columbia have abolished the death penalty. These states are Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Washington DC, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York.
- How many innocent people have died from the death penalty? ~ Horejsi
- There is no way to know for sure. Actually, there is no evidence to suggest that any innocent person has actually been killed by the death penalty. In fact with DNA testing the chances are close to 0 that any innocent person will ever be killed by the death penalty. Since 1973, over 130 people have been released from death rows throughout the country due to evidence of their wrongful convictions. In 2003 alone, 10 wrongfully convicted defendants were released from death row.
- How many jurisdictions have the death penalty? ~ Horejsi
- 38 states and the federal government ha 38 states and the federal government have the death penalty. The states are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.
- Why do there seem to be fewer pro-death penalty than anti-death penalty websites? ~ Horejsi
- Fewer pro-death penalty than anti-death penalty organizations are represented on the Internet. This may be due to the fact that most U.S. states have a death penalty.
- Are capital cases handled differently than other criminal cases? ~ Horejsi
- Because they involve a life-or-death decision, capital cases are unique in our criminal justice system. As the U.S. Supreme Court has said, “death is different.” The laws and judicial decisions that govern this highly specialized area of law make it clear that death penalty cases are far more demanding, complex, costly, and, of necessity, protracted, than other criminal cases. In order to defend a case effectively, defense counsel must invest hundreds of hours in preparation, hire investigators and experts, such as mental health professionals and forensic scientists, and have a thorough knowledge of the highly specialized body of death penalty law
- How many people are awaiting execution? ~ Horejsi
- As of January 2007 there were over 3,300 people on state and federal death row
- In what states, as of 2009, is it allowed? ~ Wenzel
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wyoming
- * New York has not accepted or abolished the death penalty, which is why they are not on the lists.
- What is the most common state that allows the death penalty and why?
- The state of texas has killed approximately 369 people, compared to the next largest of Virginia with 108. However, California has the most people awaiting death. Texas is also the state with the most murder, which could account for the outstanding amount of deaths.
- Why do these states allow it?
- They only allow it in certain cases, all of them involving murder. the states believe that the prisons would be better without these people in them, and if they ever were to escape people would be in danger. death seems the most obvious reason to fix this, even though it is the most expensive.
- What are crimes that would put you on death row?
- Most of the crimes involve murder, and in the process of the murder either rape or robbery. other crimes that would put you on death row would be robbery, rape, kidnapping, aiding a runaway (if major), and arson. REFER TO THE MOVIE LAW ABIDING CITIZEN.
- What are the most common ways of ending someones life?
- From 1976 to November 4, 2010 there were 1,233 executions, of which 1,059 were by lethal injection, 157 by electrocution, 11 by gas chamber, 3 by hanging, and 3 by firing squad.
- The below chart is the only other 4 methods of killing since 1996.
| Method |
Date |
State |
Convict |
| Electrocution |
March 18, 2010 |
Virginia |
Paul Powell |
| Shooting |
June 18, 2010 |
Utah |
Ronald Ledd Gardner |
| Lethal gas |
March 3, 1999 |
Arizona |
Walter LaGrand |
| Hanging |
January 25, 1996 |
Delaware |
William Bailey |